Adjustable invalid&#39;s chair



July 22, 1952 J. A. BuRsEY ADJUSTABLE INVALIDS CHAIR 2 SHEETS-SHEIET l Filed June 3, 1948 Isnpemor July 22, 1952 J. A. BURSEY Y 2,604,140

ADJUSTABLE INVALID S CHAIR Filed June 5, 1948 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 :inventor BB u, Q. W m (www5.

Patented July 22, 1952 UNITED:-STATES PAT ENT oFF'Ics ADJUSTABLE INVALIDS CHAIR '4 JoycejBursey, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application June 3, 1948, Serial No. 30,843

This invention relates to a chair for use by invalids, and particularly persons more or less crippled, and has for an object to provide a simple and effective construction vof chair designed to meet the needs of a child or adult crippled through polio or other diseases, who, because of his condition, needs special supportvand adjustments.r

It is a particular object to provide simple and effective Aadjustments whereby these objects may be attained.

Another. object is to provide a construction whereby all these required adjustments are simple to "make and require one person only to eiect them. 5

Another object is to provide a chair `of this type which is not cumbersome, vbut is'of a strong and rigid construction with no danger of tipping innormaluse. A

'A still further object is to provide adjustments of such a nature that the chair can be'`V readily changed'to meet the growth of a child. A still further object is to provide v'a'cmstr'uc'J tion in which the back can `be readily-adjusted to permit shortening or lengthening'of'the seat, and the angle 'of the back to the seat can be ad justed for all conditions of use. v i' The legs arealso so constructed that theseat may be raised or lowered'to different heights, and may be tipped to dierent angles, and there; is an adjustable support foreach leg and foot, with adjustments to allow for a Doise or plantar flexed foot and the like, and thesel supp'ortslare so conf- V structedthat either one of the leg or fof'tA supports may be removed if desired Where onlyoneis.

required.

with the foregoing and other vobjects in I have Adevised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings `forming a part ,of this specification` It is, howevert o bel understood the invention is not limited tothe specific `details of construction and arrangement shown, -but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.`

AInthesedrawings:'1 l .Y

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the chair;A

Fig. 2 is :a-detail elevation offa' portion only of the chair, looking from thefi'ont;

Fig.' 3 is aftop plan view with portions broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig'. 4 is a side view of the foot rest; y

Fig. isa side elevationorjthe chairpn a somewhat reducedsc ale'showing one type of leg adjustment.;

7 claims. (Criss-f2s) Figs. 6 and 7 are plan and edgeviews-respectively of one of the adjustable leg supports, and Fig. 8 is a plan View of a table rest which may be used. f

The guresof the `drawing show ythe chair somewhat Adiagrammatically without going into specific details of various joints or connections andtheflike, as, it will be understood these speciez structures may be of lsuitable known or standard types, The chair'cornprises aseat I0 supported on four legs I I with a suitable-back or back rest I2 at the back edge of the seat, and adjustable foot and leg rests I 3 at the front edge -of the seat, with a suitable table I4 above the seat as a support for books, papers' or other articles. H 1 The legs I I are made in two sections including anv upper section I5 comprising preferably substantially rectangular wooden members secured to and projecting downwardly from the seat I0 by any' suitable means, thedetails of which are not shown, and a loweradjustable section'IS which may be' of metal or other suitable material, in this construction being a substantially ilat plate, as shown inv Figs. 6 and 7, provided with laterally spaced long'itudinal'slots I'I provided' with "a series of notches I8 in one edge. Inthese slots aresecuringf bolt's- I9 fastened to the upper sec-- tion I5, and by' means of which the 'sections I6 maybe held in diie'rent adjusted 4positions for purposespresently to be described, by suitable clamping means, such as the thumb or Wing nutsZIL` f 'The back or backrest I2 is provided with downwardextensions 2I at'its opposite side edges ex-y tending into longitudinal slots 22 inthe holding' brackets 23 located adjacent the back edge of the seat I0, and carrysecuring bolts 24 eachvextend-- ing through elongatedslot 25 the front outer wall of this bracket, with clamping wingnutsl 26f on these bolts for permitting adjustment ofjthe lower edge of this back forwardly or backwardly with respect to the seat, and, then clamped in adjusted position. LThis permits yof adjustment of the depth of the seat. The inclinationof the back rest I2 may be adjusted .by means of the braces 21 pivoted at their upper ends at y2li to the back adjacent its upper edge, and each pro-, vided with an elongated slot l29 for passage of a bolt 30 mounted in an extension 3| `extending backwardly from the back edge of the seat l0, and provided with thumb nuts 32 for clamping the braces in adjusted position. To facilitate thev v holding action of the grooves and prevent in-i advertent slipping to release the back, slot 2Q is provided with lateral recesses or notches 33 o one edge in which the bolts 30 may seat. It will be evident that by loosening the clamping nuts 26 and 32, the lower edge of the back may be adjusted to change the effective length of the seat, and the angle of the back may be adjusted to any position desired, between the upright, substantially as shown in Fig. 1, to a reclining or any substantially horizontal position.

The foot restsjl3 'at-the forward :edge of thefseat are mounted for independent up andfdown adjustment, there being preferably two of these rests, one for each foot and leg. The leg rest portions are made in three sections or blocks 34,

35 and 36, the upper section 34 being connected:

to the seat l by a detachable hinge connection 31, and either section 35 or 36 may be. adjustably connected to the adjacent front leg: IJ' of the chair by abrace 38 provided with an elongated. slot 39 in which extends a clamping bolt 40` mounted on the leg Il with a clamping wing nut 41' to fsecure the braces inl different adjusted positions'j ,ToV facilitate the vholding action*l and prevent inadvertent release of the braces, a-series of notches 42 are provided in the upper -edge of the' slotin which-the bolt Mlmay rest for more effective holding of the brace. Itwill be apparent thatby loosening this nut 4I' the angle `vof theffoot rest'mayzbe adjusted toI any position Y desired and thenS-clamped in the adjustedposition.

The' 'sections-3t,l35 and 361 of the l'egrrest are detachablyf conne'ptedl by the connections V43', so that if: .desired theflrest I may be shortened by `removingA the intermediate Ysection 35 and connecting the lower` secti`onf3'6` tothe upper seotionv 3:4. Any. suitable connectionfmay be usedthatzshown comprising a strap 43 hinged at one enelv to the upper section by'a bolt 44 providedwithaaclampirfgwirig` nut, andatIitsother end hingedt to; the Iower'block or'sectimi by. a bolt 45 provided with similar.' clamping wirigs, these bolts;- extending through .elongatedz 'slots 41 rin straps. 43,. to permit longitudinali 'movement between/the sectionsl as well as relative:` swinging: or' `pivoted movement. Instead 'of usin'gxa'- Straight butt' jo-inti between the sectionsjit'isfpreferredto use a stepped joint, as indicatedat 481 and 49, so that when in posi-tion tlflegupperl edges` of the lower sections; are supported. by the lower edges ofthe next upper-sec,- tionf without. depending' on the straps 4-3-` for sup'- portingthem, these'strapsbeing used to prevent longitudinal movement to holdthe stepped'join-ts Wardly to adjust its position nearer to or farther from the chair seat, and it is also permitted angular adjustment, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The form of mounting shown to effect these adjustments comprises an angle bracket or strap 54 secured by a pair of bolts 55 to the section 36, these bolts vextending into an elongated slot 56 provided with notches 51 for seating of theseV bolts to permit longitudinal adjustment ofthe bracket on the-section 36, and it may be clamped lin adjusted Vposition bythe wing nuts 58. A similar clamping bolt 59 on the foot rest 53 projects through an elongated slot-60 in the upright portion of the strap 54 and is provided with-a clamping wing nut 6|. This connection permits Yraising and lowering of the foot rest 53 and its adjustment to diierent angular positions,

, as iindicatediin dotted lines in Fig. 1, and clamped together. Inrremoving theY central or intermedi'- Y ate section 35, after loosening the bolts 44 andy 45- and. disconnecting `the similar bolts. at. tsfconnection withktheulowe section- 36, Vthe section 35V may befshifted fori'vvardl-y'vto release the. stepped jointtl andthen `swung backwardly under the upper .section 34, .as shown inV dotted lines, iig.y 1. The lower (section. 36 can then beY conneetedat. its. upper ledge, tothe upper section 34 by similary straps 43 Y, Y l

, Tll'brae 38' maybe pvotally connected to the; lower Ysection'` 36:,or Ythe,'intermediate section .3.5 by a pivotal connection 5Uto an. ear orblolcl'i` lill onthe" under sideofthe section. .The hinge pin 52501? the fcelinectinel hinge V3l between the. les restanti-the chair seat is removable and provided Vwith aghandngrip for easyfwithdrawal` of this pin sothat eitherlleg; rest vmay be removed if it is desired touse oneonly.A

' theside of the chair seat, by means of whifhit in the ,adjusted positions by the nuts 6 I Thev book supporting or Writing table I4 is mounted so that it may-be adjustable as to height and'. also asto different angles or inclinations. For. thisA purpose it is'mounted by-downwardly extending rods 62 pivotally. connected attheir upper; endsby bolts Bil-through downwardly ei:- tendingy curved' brackets o blocks 64 pivoted to the, under' side of' the table by hinges` 65st). that they. may be swunglinwardly. with respect to the table. These brackets 64 are each provided with a curved; elongated slot66: for the bolts. 63; and thebo'lt isl 'providediwith a. clamping wing nut 6J.; For clamping the pivotal connection betweenthe IOdSf and. the bracket; in any. adjustewpos'itions along the' Slot.; they twolr'ods '621 are. telescopd. into thempperends of azpair of upright pipesiortubes 68 and 69 mounted on the side edges of thechair Seat adjacent the. front edge'ofrthis seat. The pipei or tube 68 'is provided. with. an outwardly extending flange; 'lll atwitsfupper"endandiis mounted for verticalnadjustment at. itsl lowerend in. a, clampingbrzacket 1li securedby'ia. lateral threaded studflZfthreaded iii-tothe edge of the vseat l0. This bracket is'rniade4 intwo sectionsjwith an outer. clamping section; l13.- secured: to the other section by the` clamping bolts and wingnuts T4.; Byv looseningthese nutsthe-pipe or tube 66 may be released andfshiited downwardly below the lower end of the rod 62' tome/lease this^11od 'for `a purposepresently to be described. Theftube 68 is clamped` inI diierent.adjustedY positions bythe nuts 74, and the rod-162; is; clamped;v in different adjusted. positions inv this pipeor'tube by means of a wingtype setscrew 15.' The' oppositetubular support [5.9r is threadedat; itsvlower end'into an elbow support'lprovfided witha laterallythreaded extension 1.1, threaded :into a tapped holein willpermit the elbowJS .to be turned to different angles and then` clamped in4 .adjusted position by a [lock Vnut 18' threadedgonthe extension 'Il and adaptedk toA clamp against the side of the lchair seat. Longitudinal'adjustment,of thelfQd 62m thetubula'r supportttv isjperrnitted, by the wing type set "vcrew 19, andv clamped in adjustedrpooccupant of the chair, as indicated by the dotted lines I4c in Fig. 1, by first looseningv the lock nut 'I8 which will permitlturning the supports 'II and 'I6 about their threaded connections 'I2 and 11,

` and then they may be clamped in this adjusted position by tightening the nut 18.

The table may also'be swung to an upright position at one side of the chair seat, as vindicated at I 4d in Fig. .2. To effect this the set screwV I5 isloosened, as well as the wing nut 'I4. This permits the tubular support 68 to be slid do-wn below the lower end of the supporting rod B2 in this tube. This rod may then be'swung inwardly and upwardly to the dotted line position 62a. at the under side ofthe table, thisbeing permitted by the hinge connection 65 of the block or bracket 64 to lthe under side of the table, and itmay be heldin this position by any suitable type of spring clip or clamp 80. Then the table' may be swung down to the dotted line position I4d,.as shown in dotted lines Fig. 2, by swinging it about the hinge connection 65 on the block 64 supported by the support 69 on the left hand'side of the seat. as Viewed in Fig. 2, which is really the right lhand side in reference to an occupant of the chair.

The chair seatv may be adjusted to various heights and various angles or inclinations by adjusting the lengths of the vsupporting legs I I. By loosening the clamping nuts I9 the lower section I6 may be adjusted up or down on the upper section I5, and secured in adjusted positions to adjust the height of the chair, or if one or more of these adjustments are made more or less than the other, the angle or inclination of the chair may be adjusted as desired. Thus, for example, by raising the plates or sections I6 of the rear legs more than the front legs, to shorten the rear legs, the chair may be inclined backwardly, as shown in Fig. 5; or by making the front legs shorter than the rear legs by adjusting their sections I6, the chair may be tipped forwardly. In thus adjusting the chair, however, it is preferred to also make an angular adjustment of the sections I6 so that they will rest squarely on the floor at their lower ends, as shown in Fig. 5. This may be permitted by removing one of the securing bolts I9 in each section, which will permit swinging of the section or plate I5 about the other bolt as well as adjusting it to different heights, as shown in Fig. 5, and in which position it may be clamped by tightening up the clamping nut.

It will be clear from the above that the chair is of rigid, sturdy construction, and that it may be given all the adjustments necessary to meet the needs of a crippled or otherwise invalided patient, particularly the needs of a child or adult crippled through polio or other diseases who, because of his condition, needs special supports and adjustments. It will be apparent that all adjustments are simple and do not require the services of more than one person in making them. The chair is adapted for home use, hospital or school, and because of the nature of the adjustments it can be changed to meet the growth of a child. It is, however, intended to construct the chair in three different sizes scientically proportioned to more easilyv accommodate or meet growth of the child beyond given limits. The table, although adapted for all adjustments required to meet the desires of the patient as to height, angle of inclination and so forth, may be easily placed to one side so as not to interfere with the patient getting out of the chair, or when not in use it can be locked at one side out ofthe way. The angular adjustable ffeature of the table is also desirable for a patient requiring sight-saving equipment. 'Ihis table may be of any suitable shape, as rectangular or square, or it may have a recess 8| in its front edge to permit the side portions to extend at the side of the patient to form arm rests or other' supports,V and maybeprovided at this edge with an upwardly extendingrim 82 to prevent articles sliding off, particularly when the table is inclined.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, Iclaim: y

1. A chair of the character described comprising a seat, legs supporting the seat, an upright back support at therear edge of the seat, guides at the `side edges of the seat adjacent its rear edge, cooperating means at the lower edge of the back V'suppo'rt slidable-` inA said guides for adjustment ofl this edge forwardly andbackwardly to adjust the effective length of the'seat andto secure the back support Ain-adjusted positions,

said means' also constructed to permit swinging movement of theback support to vary its angular position with respect to the seat, and a supporting brace connecting the upper portion 'of the back rest and the seat and adjustable to permit angular adjustment of the backrest `and secure it in adjusted positions. I l

2. A chair of the vcharacter described comprising a seat, legs supporting the seat, an upright back support at the rear edge of the seat, guiding means at the opposite sid-e edges of the seat provided with elongated slots, said back rest being provided with downward extensions at its lower edge located in said slots and adjustable forwardly and backwardly therein to vary the eifeotive length of the seat, clamping means for securing said extensions in adjusted positions, supporting braces pivoted at their upper ends to the upper part of the back support and provided with longitudinally extending slots, supports extending rearwardly from the seat, and clamping bolts on said supports and extending through the slots y to secure the back support in diierent angular positions with respect to the seat.

3. A chair of the character described comprising a seat, legs supporting the seat, an upright adjustable back support `at the rear edge of the seat, a pair of leg and foot rests pivoted sid-e by side to the forward edge, of the seat and each comprising a series of sections detachably secured together whereby the length of the rest may be varied by removing one of said sections, and means for mounting the foot rest on the forward section of the leg rest for adjustment toward and from the leg rest and to change its angular position.

4. A chair of the character described compris 'ing a seat, legs supporting the seat, an upright adjustable back support at the rear edge of the seat, a leg and foot rest hinged to the forward edge of the seat and comprising a Series of separable sections provided with overlapped stepped joints at their abutting edges, means detach-ably securing the overlapped portions of said joints together to permit removal of one of said sections to vary the length of the leg rest, a foot rest adjustably secured to the lower section of the leg rest, a supporting brace pivoted to the leg rest, and means adjustably securing said brace to a leg of the chair and securing it in adjusted positions to change the inclination and heighi-l of the leg rest.

5. A chair of the character described comprising a seat, an upright adjustable back support at the rear edge of the seat, front and rear legs supporting the seat, saidV legs comprising upper rectangular wooden members and lower elongated plates provided with laterally spaced upright elongated slots, and clampingbolts extending through said slots and secured to the upper members` to permit vertical adjustment of said plates and tosecure Athem in adjusted positions.

6. VA chair o f the character described-comprising a seat, an upright adjustable backsupport at the rear edgejofthe seat, front and rear legs supporting the, seat, said legs comprising upper rectangular lWooden members and lowerelongated plates provided with laterally spaced upright elongated slots, clamping boltsextending through the slots and secured to the upper members to permit vertical adjustment of the. plate to vary the length of the leg, one edge of each slot being provided with a series ofvnotches spaced along saidedge and adapted to receive and seat the bolt in the slot, and clamping nuts on the bolts for clamping the plate in adjusted positions.A

7. A chair ofthe character describedcomprising a seat, an upright adjustable back support at the rear edge of the seat, front and rear legs supporting the seat, said legs comprising upper rectangularV Wooden members fand lower elongated plates provided with laterally spaced upright elongated slots and having a straight lower end to rest on a floor, clamping bolts extending through said slotsv and secured to the upper members toY permit vertical adjustment of the plate to vary the length kof the leg'and adjustment of the seat to different inclinations, one Yof said bolts being removable to permit angular adjustment of the plate member on the upper member so that in different angular positions of the seatr 'the lower straight ledge of the plates may rest squarely on the floor, and clamping nuts on the Abolts for securing the plates in adjusted positions.

JOYCE A. BURSEY.

YREFERENCES CITED e The following references are of recordin the le' of this patent: y

Y UNiTED s'rATEs i?.l'I'EN'rs Number Name v f r Date v 363,211 CoWng May 17, 1887. 667,363 Gess Feb. 5, 1'901 1,085,176 Smith Jan.-27, 1914 1,228,618 Thum' June`5, 1917 1,420,404 Beaver vJune, 20, 1922 1,437,630 Zmmerl Dec. 5, 1922 1,787,108 Harter Dec. 30, 1930 2,074,653 Larseni-' Mar. 23, 1937 2,278,890 May Apr '1, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain Jan. 23, 1930 

